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Active Time:5 minsTotal Time:20 minsServings:8Jump to Nutrition Facts
Active Time:5 minsTotal Time:20 minsServings:8
Active Time:5 mins
Active Time:
5 mins
Total Time:20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:8
Servings:
8
Jump to Nutrition Facts
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What Is Couscous?
Couscous is a small, round pasta that’s a staple in much of the Mediterranean. Because it’s easy to prepare, cooks rather quickly and absorbs flavors well, it’s a popular and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes and makes a great substitute for other carbohydrates like potatoes and rice.
What Are the Different Kinds of Couscous?
There are three main types of couscous: Moroccan couscous, pearl couscous and Lebanese couscous.
*Moroccan couscousis the smallest type of couscous and cooks very quickly. The average cook time for Moroccan couscous is about 5 minutes.
*Pearl couscous(sometimes referred to as Israeli couscous) gets its name from its appearance. This slightly larger round couscous looks similar to acini di pepe, but pearl couscous is toasted and has a nuttier flavor. Tri-color pearl couscous is a popular variety that gets its color and mild flavor from vegetables and spices. The average cook time for pearl couscous is about 10 minutes.
*Lebanese couscous(also known as Moghrabieh couscous) isn’t much larger than pearl couscous. The average cook time for Lebanese couscous is about 15 minutes.
Health Benefits of Couscous
Whole-wheat couscous varieties contain all parts of the grain (the endosperm, the germ and the bran), preserving more of its nutrients and providing 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in each serving, making it an overallhealthy couscouschoice.
Nutrition information for a ¼-cup dry* (45-gram) serving ofregular (not whole-wheat) couscous:
Calories: 170Protein: 6 gramsFat: 0 gramsCarbohydrates: 35 gramsFiber: 2 gramsSodium: 0 milligrams
Nutrition information for a ¼-cup dry* (45-gram) serving ofwhole-wheat couscous:
Calories: 150Protein: 6 gramsFat: 0 gramsCarbohydrates: 28 gramsFiber: 3 gramsSodium: 5 milligrams
Nutrition information for a ¼-cup dry* (45-gram) serving ofIsraeli pearled couscous:
Calories: 160Protein: 6 gramsFat: 1 gramCarbohydrates: 32 gramsFiber: 1 gramSodium: 0 milligrams
*¼ cup dry couscous yields about 1 cup cooked
What to Eat Couscous With
Some of the simplest ways to serve couscous include tossed with fresh chopped herbs and served with a fillet of fish, added to fresh summer salads or in one-pot recipes like this heartyChicken Thighs with Couscous & Kale. Couscous can also be added dry right into a soup, cooking along with the other ingredients, or served on a platter piled high with grilled vegetables.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate couscous into your favorite recipes. If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine, you can use couscous as you would almost any other pasta.
Like rice and pasta, couscous absorbs flavors well and tastes great both plain or mixed with seasonal ingredients. It can be served hot, warm or cold, so keep a box of dry couscous in your pantry for year-round use. When it comes to couscous, the possibilities are truly endless.
Does Couscous Need to Be Rinsed?
Couscous does not need to be rinsed or soaked before cooking. In fact, be sure that you don’t rinse couscous if you’d like to toast it (see Note). The excess water will prevent the couscous from getting nutty.
What’s the Liquid-to-Couscous Ratio?
The typical liquid-to-couscous ratio is 1-to-1. Adding less liquid will result in a dryer, firmer couscous ideal for salads or recipes that call for a dressing, while adding more liquid will create a softer couscous with a stickier texture. You can experiment and see what you like best.
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients1 - 1 ½cupswaterorunsalted broth¼teaspoonsalt (optional)1cupwhole-wheat couscous
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)
Ingredients
1 - 1 ½cupswaterorunsalted broth
¼teaspoonsalt (optional)
1cupwhole-wheat couscous
DirectionsHow to Cook Moroccan CouscousBring 1 cup water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the water is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.How to Cook Pearl CouscousBring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the couscous is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.How to Cook Lebanese CouscousBring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the couscous is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.NoteIf you’d like to toast the couscous before boiling, heat 1 tablespoon oil in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the couscous and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the water, cover and cook as directed.Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, May 2023
Directions
How to Cook Moroccan CouscousBring 1 cup water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the water is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.How to Cook Pearl CouscousBring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the couscous is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.How to Cook Lebanese CouscousBring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the couscous is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.NoteIf you’d like to toast the couscous before boiling, heat 1 tablespoon oil in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the couscous and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the water, cover and cook as directed.
How to Cook Moroccan Couscous
Bring 1 cup water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the water is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
How to Cook Pearl Couscous
Bring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) and salt (if using) to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous. Cover and cook until the couscous is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
How to Cook Lebanese Couscous
Note
If you’d like to toast the couscous before boiling, heat 1 tablespoon oil in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the couscous and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the water, cover and cook as directed.
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, May 2023
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Nutrition Facts(per serving)85Calories19gCarbs4gProtein
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
